Leave of absence?

He has a job offer that will take him out of journalism as far as newspapers, but would keep him under the overall umbrella of "media." The job would pay significantly better would have enough time to freelance. On the surface, it seems like a good opportunity.
Question is: How difficult is it to get back into the business after you leave for a year or two or more?

I taught part-time for a year-and-a-half and I'm about to finish my first semester of fulltime teaching. It was a good, good move for me. Previously, I was an SID and had hours similar to a reporter's. I taught four classes this semester and am teaching three in the spring. I'm never at work later than about 5:30, and I had two weekend meetings this semester. I freelanced some this semester and am looking to pick it up in the spring. I don't teach in the summer, so I'm planning to freelance a lot then. I've already started making some contacts.

As to your original question, I don't think teaching journalism is taking you a step away from the business. If anything, I think a future employer would look favorably at anyone who knows enough about the process to teach it.

It's honorable to want to teach journalism and I think it would be a good break from the reporting demands. Freelancing on the side would be great as a way to give you something to look forward to when you're not teaching. Go for it. Life's too short to wait on something that could give you more satisfaction.